Customer Reviews

The Armchair Birder: Discovering the Secret Lives of Familiar Birds

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Armchair Birder: Discovering the Secret Lives of Familiar Birds
As an enthusiastic but time-pressed birder, I have scores of birding guides. This book is different. It is not written for the competitive birder but s/he will enjoy it just the same. The Armchair Birder is full of anecdotes and interesting traits of familiar birds. The observations of naturalists from J.J. Audubon to modern contributors to `The Birds of North America Online' provide the background to Yow's personal and colorful observations. Readers will have a better understanding of why a Cardinal will sit on a car's outside rear view mirror and peck at his own reflection, as well as why Cedar Waxwings pass berries to their neighbors (It ain't just because they're nice). The book is divided into the four seasons, each with 10 birds, so you can read what you want when you want, but you will find that you will start from the beginning and read them all. Yow is an excellent writer with an easy-to-read style.

I previewed this before giving it to my sister who lives in Atlanta. Thought I would read a few chapters to make sure it was good and then mail it. While there weren't as many "anecdotes and stories" as I would have liked, I ended up reading the entire book rather than just browsing it. There are just enough facts to make it interesting but not overwhelming. The chapters are short and follow a pattern of exploring each bird's migration, feeding, nesting and parenting habits. Would have been nice to have color pictures rather than Audubon's black and white drawings, but I suppose that would have significantly increased the price. It inspired me to buy a bird feeder and I'm researching which binocular to buy!

I bought this book for a very best friend who is an avid bird enthusiast. She enjoyed the read and liked the break from the traditional fieldbook. It isn't there with her "what is that?" reference materials but she told me she finds the stories something to savor.. As a gift for a backyard birder- it was a hit.

A very good read. Funny and at the same time you learn a lot about birds. Easy to read and fun. A good trip book.

I should have browsed this book at the bookstore insted of ordering it blind. I live in Michigan and only a few of the birds written about are relevent to me. The rest are not native and certainly not in my back yard. The title of the book infers that the book would be about average birds in a urban back yard. I don not have bald eagles, cranes, or owls in my yard. The cover also implies this. The information provided seems rather shallow and he cribs a lot from other bird books. Why the political commentary? I wouldn't have purchased it if I new it had politcal snarkiness. You are better off spending close to the same amount and buying a National Audubon Society Field guide book.

I knew this book would be interesting because I read an excerpt in Bird's and Blooms magazine. It is more than interesting. The writer has an unexpected sense of humor that really makes the stories entertaining. The stories are short enough to read one during my lunch hour. If you have any interest in birds you will find this a delight. Would make a nice gift, as well.

This book takes us into the "secret" lives of many birds. It would take a lifetime of observations to glean all of the information here. It also is well organized and written.

This looked like a good book. It even read like a good book--for a couple of chapters. Then the author had to insert some snarky remarks about George W. Bush and conservatives who apparently wouldn't be "good for conservation." Puhleese....I just wanted to read about the birds. I don't give a flip about his opinion on politics. Can't we leave those arguments to books about politics (that I can avoid like the plague)? I just shut the book. If Mr. Yow could have kept his political opinions to himself, I probably would have purchased several copies of his book, as I have many birding fans in my family. But, funnily enough, they are politically conservative (and they read? amazing...) and would fail to see the humor in his little attacks. So, if you like politics with your birds, read the book. If not, skip this one.

Come on; is it really necessary to excoriate a political figure in a BIRD book. I guess it is if you want to alienate half the nation. No thanks.